Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Riverside, CA
VS
Vacaville, CA
🏆 Vacaville leads 14 of 22 categories
Riverside
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,448
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High
Population
316,076 ✓ Larger
Vacaville
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,764 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
101,631
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Riverside, CA
Pros
Rent averages $430/mo less ($1,711 vs $2,141)
Homes cost $75k less ($485,500 vs $560,400)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 58°F
Cons
Violent crime (589.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Vacaville by $23,316/yr
Property crime (2832.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Vacaville, CA
Pros
50% less violent crime than Riverside
Households earn $23,316 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.4%)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,141/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $560,400
Key Differences at a Glance
Riverside
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Riverside
Median Home Value
$75k less
$485,500 vs $560,400
Vacaville
Median Income
$23,316
$106,764 vs $83,448/yr
Vacaville
Violent Crime
50% lower
293.2 vs 589.7 per 100k
Vacaville
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Riverside, CA | Vacaville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $485,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $560,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,711⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,141⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,448 | $106,764 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 28.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.1% | 9.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 147⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 155⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | C+ (89) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.3:1 | 21.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% | 26.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.6% | 91.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Riverside Unified | Vacaville Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer | 57.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer | 95.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.0" ✓ Drier | 24.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 316,076 ✓ Larger | 101,631 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.5% | 66.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 22.5% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Riverside's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Vacaville's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Riverside is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Vacaville leads 14 of 22 categories. Riverside wins 8 and Vacaville wins 14. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Riverside to Vacaville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($485,500 vs $560,400 median home), income ($83,448 vs $106,764), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Riverside, CA and Vacaville, CA are about 398 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.